SEOUL (Reuters) -The leader of the Unification Church religious empire, Han Hak-ja, faced a court in South Korea on Monday that is considering a warrant to detain her in a probe of the wife of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol for corruption.
If the court approves the warrant, Han, 82, will be imprisoned while a special prosecutor investigates allegations she directed a church official to bribe former First Lady Kim Keon Hee for favours for the church’s business interests.
Han did not answer reporters’ questions about allegations of bribery she faces as she was pushed in a wheelchair entering the Seoul Central District Court for the warrant hearing.
Han, who is called “True Mother” by followers, is the widow of Unification Church founder Moon Sun-myung who died in 2012. She previously denied the allegations of giving jewellery and luxury handbags to Kim, who is in detention.
The church, formally called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, has followers around the world and controls entities in construction, health care and media among others.
Yoon was ousted in April after being impeached for masterminding a failed martial law in December to suppress political opponents. Yoon, who is also in detention, is on a separate trial for insurrection.
The investigation against Kim continues even as she goes on trial this week for corruption stemming from the time before and during her husband’s short-lived presidency.
The former first lady’s lawyers have denied the allegations against her, including receiving gifts from the church.
(Reporting by Jack Kim)
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